It was 7:45 am, cold, the opening weekend of Gun season and the 10 point that I had been stalking for 2 years had finally come my way. I hunkered down behind a dead log, watching his head bob under the weight of that majestic rack. I was awestruck by his beauty and grace and for a moment--albeit brief moment--I seriously considered letting him go, to continue to rule my little chunk of Michigan.
Naw, nuts to that, says I...
I brought my .54 hawken up to my shoulder, slowly easing the hammer back as I went. He stopped and turned, a more perfect shot I couldn't possibly ask for. I settled my sights on his ribcage, preparing to introduce a .530 galena pellet into his lungs...I had never been more calm in my life...the world stopped.....
And suddenly, a shotgun blast ripped through the cold morning air and my buck collapsed in a heap right where he had been standing...
A young voice shouted into the forest..."DAD! DAD! I GOT HIM! I GOT HIM!!!!"
I eased the hammer down, rose from my spot and came out of the brush to greet the succesful 14 year old out on his first hunt...He and his dad and uncle sort of jumped when they saw me. Dad walked up and said, "hey, were you...?"
I nodded but smiled..."hey, I've shot plenty of deer, I'm glad that he got a good one, that's great."
The look on that kid's face made for one of my best day's of hunting ever. :hatsoff:
